Knowing what you like and sticking to it can work well, but there’s always a danger of getting stuck in a rut. If you rely too heavily on too few garments, your life can quickly turn into a sort of sartorial Groundhog Day where you find yourself defaulting to the same outfit over and over again. Suffice to say this isn’t the most effective way to keep your look fresh.
When you’re in that cycle, it can be hard to break out. You become blind to other options, and when you do try something different, you might feel it looks contrived (even if it doesn’t to anyone else). So, where do you go from here? How can you switch your look up while still feeling like yourself and wearing pieces you’re comfortable in? Well, we might have a solution.
Below you’ll find several menswear basics – staple pieces lots of men find themselves reaching for day after day, week after week. Alongside these, you’ll find similar yet slightly elevated alternatives that will bring some extra flavour to your outfits while still feeling comfortably familiar.
Make these simple wardrobe swaps, and quickly get your style back on track.
Swap Your: Cotton Worker Jacket
Asket
A simple three-pocket worker jacket in cotton is a must-have for any well-dressed man. It’s one of the most versatile layers money can buy, and while that’s great on paper, it can mean some guys rely too heavily on theirs.
For A: Wool Blouson
If your worker jacket is getting overworked, it might be time to consider a slightly elevated alternative. If you like the shape and silhouette of these shirt-jacket hybrids, chances are you’ll get on well with a wool blouson, too.
With a similar shape, slightly more upscale materials and stripped-back details, this simple piece of outerwear is a premium version of the garment you’ve been living in. That means you can wear it the same way, with all the same stuff, but it’ll bring a slightly more polished look to your everyday outfits.
Go for navy or charcoal for maximum versatility.
Swap Your: Basic Cardigan
Velasca
Cardigans are great in terms of functionality and versatility, but they can also be a little boring. One way to take your knitwear game up a notch is to swap your plain block-colour cardi out for something a little jazzier and more on-trend.
For A: Patterned Mohair Version
Mohair cardigans have been in for a minute, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere fast. We love them because they have an unusual texture that brings something a bit different to the table, and they often feature patterns, which the hairy nature of the knit helps to soften.
This means you can have some pretty wild designs, but they still look subtle and subdued rather than overly punchy and in your face.
Check out Beams Plus and Needles for some of the best.
Swap Your: Classic Polo
Canali
Somewhere along the line you got too comfortable in polo shirts. We get it, they’re a good balance of smart and casual – a handy compromise between wearing a T-shirt and an Oxford shirt.
Unfortunately, they’re not the most exciting garments out there, and honestly, you can do a lot better with relatively little effort.
For A: Knitted Short-Sleeve
We recommend swapping your plain pique polo for something with a little more texture. This is where a knitted short-sleeve slots in perfectly. Just like a polo, it’s easy to dress up or down, but the added texture gives it a touch more character, and overall, it just feels a bit more refined and intentional.
Plus, you can wear it in many different ways. One of our favourites is to style it unbuttoned over a white vest with loose, flowy pants and loafers.
Swap Your: Slim-Fit Chinos
Reiss
Speaking of loose pants, those slim-fit chinos are beginning to look a little dated. When you’ve become attached to a certain fit, it can be hard to break away and try something different, but we highly recommend broadening your mind and your leg opening to keep up with the times.
For A: Relaxed-Taper Pleated Trouser
Now, we’re not saying you need to rush out and buy yourself the widest trousers you can find. Instead, we think it’s best to go for something relaxed and drapey but with some familiar touches that will help you feel comfortable and less like you’re venturing completely off-piste.
A nice tapered leg can help achieve this, as the leg opening is still fairly narrow around the ankle, so you won’t have lots of excess fabric flapping around. A pleated waist is another nice touch for adding a little rakish charm to everyday looks, too.
Swap Your: Luxe Leather Sneakers
JAK
Those simple white sneakers go with anything and everything, but it’s good to mix it up occasionally. If you find yourself drawn to yours a little too often, it might be a good idea to swap them for something that’s different visually but that does the same job within your outfit.
For us, a pair of suede loafers fits the bill perfectly.
For A: Pair Of Suede Loafers
Now, we know what you’re thinking: how on earth are suede loafers and leather sneakers even being talked about in the same sentence? Well, hear us out because while we understand that these two shoes look completely different, they actually have more in common than you might think, and you’ll probably find they go with a lot of the same outfits.
Crucially, these are both shoes that tread the line between smart and casual but approach it from opposite directions. The loafer is a smart shoe gone casual, and the luxe sneaker is a casual shoe gone smart.
Both are great for dressing up everyday outfits and dressing down smarter outfits, and you can substitute one for the other whenever you feel like it to keep things fresh.
Swap Your: Graphic Tee
A graphic tee can bring a pop of colour to your outfits and give the eye something to focus on, but there is a better way of achieving these goals. One that’s a little bit more grown up and that doesn’t require you to have a brand name or obnoxious image plastered across your chest.
For An: Embroidered Short-Sleeve Shirt
The obvious substitute for us is an embroidered short-sleeve shirt. It’s still a bit of a statement piece that can be worn with pared-back pieces to create a focal point, but it’s far more stylish than a boring old T-shirt with a print slapped on the front.
Plus, you can go as wacky or restrained with the embroidery as you see fit – a little floral detail to the chest if you’re feeling conservative or an all-over abstract pattern if you’re feeling adventurous.
Swap Your: Cosy Sweatshirt
Todd Snyder
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a nice, cosy crewneck sweater, but if you’re looking to switch it up, there are plenty of alternatives.
For A: Chunky Fisherman Knit
If you have a heavyweight sweatshirt you love and find yourself wearing it with everything, a classic fisherman knit will be right up your street. It’s a bit more grown up, every bit as cosy, and you’ll probably find you can wear it across more of your wardrobe.
Bear in mind these sweaters can be a bit heavy and scratchy, particularly the truly authentic ones. If you’re thinking of buying from a heritage brand like Inverallan, make sure you try one on first, because you might be surprised at just how substantial the real deal is.
Alternatively, any knitted sweater with a nice low-gauge knit and some cable detailing to the front will do the trick.
